Top 3 Expat Havens
Expatriate or “expat” is a term used to indicate a person either temporarily or permanently living in a country other than the one where he or she is a citizen.
There are a number of reasons why people become expatriates such as professionals sent abroad by their companies or governments for work purposes, those seeking a different lifestyle and culture from which they’ve become accustomed to, or others who have fallen in love with a person or place outside of their own country.
According to recent data, the number of expatriates has reached over 230 million worldwide. Some celebrity expats of note are Tina Turner, Shania Twain, Phil Collins, Gerard Depardieu, Sean Connery, Mick Jagger, and Johnny Depp.
If you have a sense of adventure and are looking for a variety of cultural offerings, climates and lifestyles, check out some of these expat-friendly destinations.
Ecuador
Ecuador has been voted the best place in the world for expats to retire. Estimates show that about 5,000 to 10,000 American expatriates now live in Ecaudor.
Property is relatively cheap to buy or rent either on beachfront villas or rural locations. Buying a house or condo near the water could cost you less than a quarter of popular U.S. destinations of similar climate.
High quality hospital care as well as affordable health care are among the major attractions when locating to Ecuador. You may want to brush up on your Spanish as it is the official language of Ecuador, though English is widely spoken.
Panama
Panama is considered to be a great option for first time expats with it’s major draw, besides it’s lush tropical landscape, being a US style infrastructure which offers an easy transition to US retirees.
Panama is one of the few countries that offer great amenities, excellent infrastructure and sizable expat populations. Panama also boasts a rich nightlife and cultural activities.
This tolerant and multicultural country offers travelers with special interests such as world record deep sea fishing, birding, river rafting and rain forest experiences. All these exciting opportunities together with gorgeous beaches and great surfing, kayaking and diving, ensure Panama has something for everyone.
Malaysia
Malaysia is a regional and a global hub, for trade, for business, and for culture offering expats affordable living in what is considered luxury housing in the U.S.
Malaysia has some of the regions best street food, restaurants, shopping malls, bars and movie theaters. Its tropical weather is around 82 all year year round and its beaches, islands, and jungles are pristine.
Plan on making an international move? As an expat one gets to peer out at a more interesting, colorful, exotic world, something unfamiliar and exciting. What have you got out of your expat experience?
